To send medical bill to the bar where I was injured?

[Mar124]

Unfortunately somebody threw a glass in a crowded pub at the weekend, and my friend and I were wrong place wrong time! It hit us both, but it went in my eye. Got most out, was brought to A&E by staff (they were so helpful). The wait was very long, so I checked out at urgent care instead. Anyway, long story short I’ve now to be referred to an ophthalmologist. They said they saw nothing in eye and was probably just scratched/inflamed and gave me drops.

I’m having pain today after work. Last night, no orange dye was put in my eye when using the lamp and that’s needed to check for corneal abrasion. So I asked about it and they referred me on. The bouncer on the night, told me to send all medical bills and the pub will cover them. The manager gave us their number and have been in text contact checking if my friend and I are okay. But no mention of the bill. AIBU to mention that I was told it was covered? I feel awkward being like here is my bill, but it was offered to me on the night!

@OuiOuiKitty Also, the A&E charge applies for attending I think? As I was triaged? But didn’t stay.

Well, the option was stay in a&e no? If you day you weren't being cagey fine but mocking someone who says the GP is €50 when for lots of us it is €50, talking about having to pay for A&E when you never saw anyone in A&E, not explaining that you went private that's why you said 'walk in clinic' when someone said Ireland doesn't have walk in clinics and not saying that you are going private when someone says your costs don't add up seems cagey to me.

Lots of place now have HSE 'injury units' I think they are called that cost €75 that you can to instead of going private just for future reference in case you ever need to be seen out of hours again.

Edited to add: I see that you say you did see someone in A&E then chose to walk out, yeah you might be charged in those circumstances.

It was €50 in Ireland when I last needed a GP (last summer), and her other numbers are quite wrong too.

What an odd comment, as is this:

I don't know if her local hospital has different rates, I thought they were set nationally.

GP's fees vary very significantly across the country; mine is €65 per visit.

I've no idea why you think the OP's figures are 'quite wrong'

Genuine question, do people in Ireland not know what the NHS is?

I've never known anyone here not know what the NHS is or how the UK system works.

The bar is not at fault. The idiot who threw the glass is. Report the issue to the gardai and they should approach the bar for CCTV.
if you want recompense, which I understand, go to a no win no fee solicitor and claim against the bars public liability insurance.

@OuiOuiKitty I didn’t call it a walk in clinic. I’m not a private patient I’ve no health insurance . I paid the costs. Yes we did leave A&E you try the overnight wait, when you know you can be seen very soon in an out of hours clinic and you feel okay to leave. We were brought to A&E.

I’m not a private patient I’ve no health insurance .
Yes you are. You are not being seen by the public system, therefore you are a private patient.

Health insurance simply means that your insurer will cover all or some of the fees (eg the ophthalmologist); if you required ongoing private treatment it would likely be prohibitively expensive without insurance.

This thread is not about the NHS or me paying for out of hours healthcare; it was a simple
question that was totally derailed by some people. I won’t be replying anymore, as I’m genuinely baffled by some of the replies here!! Thanks to those who gave me sensible answers.

Ya I'd send the bar the bill, the bouncer said they'd cover it.

But the hospital appointments should be covered, I understand you didn't fancy waiting in a&e so you need to pay the €100 since you weren't admitted. But if the GP referred you to a specialist in the hospital that should be covered. I've never had a referral for anything like that. The last I had was when I broke my finger, I went to the minor injuries, they sent me to the hospital, then referred me onto the physio etc, I only paid for the initial minor injuries unit since it was all referrals on through the HSE.

Anyway more importantly I am glad you aren't too badly injured. What a f*cking arse hole throwing a glass I really hope they do catch them. Have you been to the Gardai?

In fairness OP, you posted on a site with a very large majority of UK posters, without making it clear how you incurred healthcare costs (which wouldn't apply in the UK).

That's why costs / NHS / private care arose & it's not detailing the thread.

But if the GP referred you to a specialist in the hospital that should be covered.

Are you in Ireland? You will always have to pay for this, unless you are a public patient (and then likely will have a long waiting list) or have a medical card (ditto).

If you are in A&E itself, then, no, you won't pay to see a consultant but you will if ongoing or follow up treatment, outside the hospital (in their rooms, for example) is required.

Personal injury solicitor here.

1. Send the bill to the bar manager with a polite email asking to be reimbursed. You might be lucky but...

1. The likelihood is that the bar will pass the matter to their liability insurer, just in case you end up needing further medical treatment in future and seek further compensation.

1. The insurance company will probably deny your claim on the basis that the bar have taken appropriate measures to safeguard the public i.e. by having bouncers, not serving obviously intoxicated punters. Contrary to advice on here, the bar is NOT vicariously liable for the acts of clientele.

1. I doubt any solicitor would take your case on a no win no fee basis.

@EarringsandLipstick ya I'm in Ireland. As I said thankfully I haven't needed anything like the OP but when I broke my finger apart from the initial cost at the minor injuries it was all covered. I know waiting lists can be shocking bad but I thought this would be classed as an emergency referral. I've seen allergy consultants in St Vincent's I didn't have to pay for that either just the GP visit. I didn't wait too long either but I think the GP was very worried. I know all GPs weren't created equally though the one my mam goes I think would want you at deaths door before he admitted he needed to refer her on so she did just pay for a private consultant herself.

Actually anyone in Ireland , the GP visit card limits all changed a few weeks ago, I now qualify for one. I just applied this morning